Oil delivery control system



June 12, 1945. E. H.B!CKLY 2,377,860

OIL DELIVERY CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l mw Nw ab.. www mw www mm. www

June l2, 1945. E. H. BICKLEY on, DELIVERY coNTEoL SYSTEM Filed March 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June l2, 1945. E. H. BlcKLEY OIL DELI VERY CONTROL SYSTEM 5 sheets-sheet s Filed March 25, 1940 June 12, 1945- E. H. BICKLEY l OIL DELIVERY CONTROL SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 25, 1940 www www n@ www www @www j f gms/whom,

wml@ @N K June'12l 1945. E. H.'B|cKLEY OIL DELIVERY CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March' 25. 1940 n 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www @S1 www @S1 EN I l l l l l l u Patented June 12, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l .OIL DELIVERY. CONTROL SYSCIENIv Everett H. Bckley, Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

Application March 25, 1940, Serial N11-.325,930

17 Claims. (Cl. 'YSL-4312)" trmlarly the.. differential.: of.. outdoor and'. indoor temperatures or conditions, andy to: prcvidef such a system. as depends further.y upon the estimated' or predetermined number of acts, services; or the like` to be performed or rendered. over. a .season or period of time as a result of the* indications.

The invention will" be. described primarily in connection. withl the delivery of fuel such as cilv toi tanks associatedwithiburners or furnaces used` for heating offices, apartments. priva-te homes. hotels', theatres; stores and other buildings, as one field oi. .use ink connection with which the; invention has specialivalue..

Any important object is 'co` provide such. a system whereby the need orV desirability for:V supplying oil to theV fueltanks may be ascertained or in` dioated accurately at a central locationremote to" the tanks anddependsupon automatic or partial.-

ly automatic operation or control according toV outside atmospheric temperature.l

In accordance with the invention, aY card. orv equivalent is'provided for each customer on-Which for instance his-name, address, tank capacity, fuel. load when the tank is at a safe low level', dates and lamounts of deliveries, class of service, kind? of oil, remarks or the like are entered, and the cards are` usually illed` in the office of the Iner-` chant and are moved automatically under controlv ing'how long a supply of' fuelVv will last and the l usual gauge on the oilY tank is not accurate and is seldom observed. It should loel borne in mind too that if a supply of oil .runs too lowthe dregs will clog the minute ports of the burner nozzle and cause an expensive repair. Where a dealer. has many customers, say severalghundredior example. ity is expensive to havev his trucks travel from house to house, withthedriverschecking up on the7 quantity of oil in the tankk or coal in the bin, besides the liability of errors, and imposing 55 unnecessary Workv on the billing clerks with' small deliveriesvbesides'annoyance of customers. l

The more. specific objects and advantages will become apparent from av consideration ofthe cle-v scription. following taken in connection with ac.- companying; drawings. illustrating operative cm1-f bodiments. f

In said drawings:

Figure 1 isa longitudinal vertical sectional Viewy through. one-form. of. the-apparatus taken. substantally onthe plane of line' |'.I-y ofFigure 2;

`Figure 2. is. aA planview of; the service. indicator` or index means of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical. sectional view .througlzry asecondfform of', thermostatic'actuator device;-

Figure 4 is a: cross, section takenr on the plane:

of line; 4*-4 of Figure 3 Figure 5r is aperspective View of an integrator;

form of the invention with respect to both the. thermostatic actuator device. and the .service in dicator;

Figure 7a' isv an elevation of. a ydelivery cardV alone.;

Figure 8- *isl a view in. elevation'v in connection with a section through the wall of` a building,

suggesting aifurther modified form Figure `9 is a plan' view of. a modifledfcrm' of. thermostati'c control;

Figure. 10 is a. plan'v view` of the' thermostatic stripzof the formofjFigure 9;

Figure 11` is another .modied form partly and fragmentaiilyin sideelevatiorr and section;

Figure 12 is a. perspective View of thelastmodi.; ed form,v the same being partlybroken away'and. insection to disclose details .Figure 1'3 is a central. longitudinal sectional viewl .through a portion of thedevice; of; Figure v1'2 in which the latter is disposed vertically.;`

Figure. '14 is a. partiali transverse sectional viewv ofthe deviceofFigure 12.;

Figure 15 is` an elevation of one; of the' index cards and. carrier or envelope asfused inthe form ofFigurev 1l2;and

Figure 16 is. a sectional viewytaken: on the line. ISL-|16 of Figureflr.`

Referring specifically to. the drawings; wherein like reference. characters designate like or: similar parts., a plurality of. cards l0 vareqprovicied,

one for each customer, to whom fuel oil, coal, or the like is to be delivered during a season. rJl'iese cards Ic may be of any suitable size and material and, for instance, are initially7 the three-inch b-y five-inch commercial paper or paste-board variety. As well shown in Figure l, each card I along its lower edge portion is cut away from its left hand end, as at II, leaving a projection or depending portion I2 along such lower edge from the cut-away portion Il to the right hand edge. The projection I2 may be provided in various ways, such as that shown by way of example, or, for instance, by attaching a supplemental portion to the card. Depending below the lower right hand corner of each card is a spur I3, which may be provided in various ways, for instance, being a pin penetrating, clinched to and suitably fastened by adhesive to the cards, or otherwise.

The cards I0 (Figures 1 and 2) are arranged or led in a suitable box or receptacle I5, in the manner of a card index, and the spurs or pins I3 penetrate an endless belt or carpet I6, preferably made of a loose, porous textile fabric, which is trained over a pair of rollers I1 and I8, preferably of soft rubber. If desired, rods or partitions I4 may be provided in the box to guide the cards and separate them in groups.

Said cards I0 are preferably printed blanks containing spaces for entry of a customers name, address, tank capacity, fuel load when the tank is at a safe low level, dates and amounts of deliveries, class oi service, kind or grade of oil, remarks, and the like. Through the medium of means to be later described, the upper run of the belt I5 travels from right to left, in Figures l and 2, at a very slow rate, for instance, only approximately twelve inches in a six months period or season, where there are average temperature changes, as in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Penn` Sylvania.

Along the lower edge of the cards as shown in Figure 7a, I provide a scale,- indications, or calibrations, as at I9, and such scale is used to indif cate the number of deliveries required by a customer represented by the card per season, in determining the extent to which the card is to be cut away to provide the space I I. The use of this scale I9 and provision of the space II is as follows: A study of Weather Bureau Reports indicates that a twelve inch movement of the cards I0 during a winter season is sufficient to carry out the present system. The minimum number of deliveries to a single customer would be three, requiring a movement of one-third of twelve inches,

or four inches. When the card IIJ is placed in the box I5 with the right hand end or edge of the card abutting a wall or shoulder 26 therein, a mark is made on the card directly over a lifting bar 2I, to be later specifically described. I now measure four inches to the right of this mark and place the figure 3. Thus, for a customer requiring four deliveries per season, the movement would be one-fourth of twelve inches, or three inches, and measuring three inches from the above mentioned mark over a lifting bar 2|, I place the figure 4. This system is followed for 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, to 30, or any other desired number of deliveries. The cards are cut away to the left of the figures placed thereon according to the method mentioned, and which govern spaces out out at I I and location of the shoulder 22 at the left-hand end of projection I2. A non-uniform scale or series of shoulders 22 and spaces II are thus provided on the lower edge of all ofthe cards. From an examination of the previous years consumption of oil, or of the consumption of oil for any given year o-r a period or a number of years, the size of the ideal load for the storage tank, the proper number of deliveries is arrived at and the lower edge of the card clipped at I I, as described. After clipping of the cards, they are filed or inserted in the box I5 simultaneously with a filling of the respective tanks to which they correspond, with the right hand edge or end of the cards in contact with the shoulder 20.

The filing box I5 is kept within the oihce of the merchant or otherwise indoors, while a box or casing 23 is kept out of doors, as on a shelf, at the oiiice of the merchant or otherwise, where it will be subject to average outside weather changes, the box preferably being exteriorly painted to prevent water absorption. Such box may be made of a suitable heat insulating material and, for instance, of a mixture of slag concrete and spun glass. Box 23 has a container section 24 and a cover 25, and within the section 24 an electric heating device 26 is provided, which may be a lamp, coil of resistance wire, or the like, which coacts with a thermostatic switch 21, also located in the box. A base 28 in the box supports the heater 26 and thermostatic switch 21, and also supports a shield 29 located therebetween, to prevent the direct rays from the lamp 26 striking the thermostatic switch 21,

Said thermostatic switch 21 has a base 36 from which an evacuated bulb or envelope 3I extends, within which a thermostatic strip 32 is located which is composed, for instance, of a strip of brass 33 having a strip of steel 34 welded to the same. The latter has a hardened steel contact member 35 welded to it in spaced and opposed relation to a weak hard steel permanent magnet 38 carried -by a contact 36. The thermostatic strip 32, contact 35, magnet 36' and contact 36 are contained within the vacuum or envelope 3l in order to prevent oxidation at the contact surfaces. The action of the magnet 36 causes rapid engagement with contact 35 and rapid disengagement giving clean action.

Electric current from any suitable source is supplied to the heater 26 and thermostatic switch 21 through feed wires 31 and 38, which preferably lead frorn a plug 39 adapted to be connected to the source. The other terminals of said heater 26 and thermostatic switch 21 are joined by a conductor 45 from which a conductor 4I leads and which in association with a conductor 42 which is tapped to conductor 31 supplies electric current to a motor 43. The various conductors enter box 23 through a passage or conduit 44 and the conductors 4I and 42 enter the box I5 through a passage or conduit 45. Said motor 43 is of any type or capacity and, for instance, may be of the usual type which operates an electric clock. The shaft of the motor 43 is designated 46, and the motor is supported by suitable brackets 41 fastened to the box I5. Fast on the shaft 46 is a Worm 48 enmeshed with a worm wheel 49, in turn fast on the shaft 50 of the previously described roller I1. Said shaft 5U is journaled in suitable bearings 5l fastened within the box I5.

Roller i3 has a shaft 5I which is slidably and rotatably mounted in elongated slots 52 of bearings or brackets 53 fastened within the box I5. The belt I6 is maintained taut since leaf springs 54 contact the shaft 5I and urge it away from the shaft 50, the leaf springs 54 being fastened as at 55, interiorly of the box I5.

It will be noted that an inclined or deflecting surface is provided within the box I5, at 56, lo-

catedxin. the path of `movement of the: shoulders I2 of the cards I0: to the left, so'. as to cause the cards to tilt or move upwardly at theleft-hand end", in the event the cards are not first lifted by the device 21| and thereupon removed.

Concerning said lifting bar 2I, it is generally of U-'shape in plan, as shown inFigure 2, thus having: a side portion l which is pivoted by a pin 58 to a bracket 59 fastened to the bottom ofthebox. I5 anda side portion 51 pivoted at 58' to thebox. A manipulating portion 6D extends outwardly from the portion 5l through anl openingI 6I in a side wall of box I5 Where it is pref erably' terminally equipped. with a key 52 to facilitate depression in order to lift the barI 2l so' that it will engage any of the' projections I2 located above the same, and therebylift or tilt the left-hand portions of the engaged cardsrv ID, so that they will extend abovey the remaining cards III, to indicate customers at that timek reqiring delivery of oil or fuel., the lifted cards being removed, entries made thereon, and then replacedin the box I5 with their right-hand ends'. contacting the shoulder 20 of box I5 and their spurs I3 penetrating the belt I6;

Some customers insist upon being notified when` their fuel supply is low and upon ordering the fuel before delivery is made to them. In order to be` able to g-ive such notice, at the proper time, the card is clipped 1A to the' left of the point as indicated by the scale on the card. A lifting bar 63 of substantially the same shape and size as lifting bar 2I is pivoted on the pins 58 and 58' and has a lateral portiony 64 extending through an opening B5 in the box I2 to the exterior where it is terminally equipped with a keyr 6B. In the travel or the cards I Il', they will move ovei` the bar 613 before moving over the bar 2l and, hence, upon depressing key 65 thek cards having projections I2` in line with the bar 63l will be raised, thus indicating those customers who will need fuel in' advance of a holiday, over a week-end, orA the like; Following this, such cards are removed and later replaced with their right-hand edgesv in contact with the shoulder 2D and their spurs I3V penetrating the belt I6. Bars 2| and 63 normally rest on one or more shelves 61 depending from the wall for example.

To explain the operation of the invention, it' will be realized that the space or interior of the box 23 is held at a constant average temperature and that the contacts 35' and 36 are adjusted so that suchtemperature is about 691/2" F. or 70c F; Since the box is located out of doors, it will be subject to average weather changes and the length of time which the contacts 35 and 36 are closed in any period is proportional to the heat loss through they walls of the boxl 23 and this, in turn, is proportional to the difference of temperature between the inside and the outside of the box. Tests have shown that the amount of oil consumed by an oil burner controlledby a thermostat andr the amount of coal consumed by a furnace controlled by a' thermostat are closely proportional to the difference of temperature between. the outside temperature and the inside temperature of` 70. The thermostatic action of the contacts 35 and 35 is also used to control the operation ofthe motor 43 and the other movable parts within the box I5. As previously stated, the motor 43 is geared down so that it operates the parts very slowly in order to move the upper run of belt I6 to the left approximately twelve inches in a, six months period with the average temperature changes as exist in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for instance.- The belt' I5 'i'svsl'iownlas one"y example of'carrier only', andit is'v to ber understood that any equivalent carrier may be providedA to movethe cards, or the like', slowly and" proportionately to the Weather variations below? any suitable temperature, such as 709'. The movement ot` the belty or carrier I6 moves thek cards from the positionwhere they contact the shoulder' 20, to the left. When the amount of fuel has been consumed due tothe weather below 70 corresponding to one delivery, the" card will have moved tothe left a distance sufficient to dispose the cut edgev I Il and adjacent portion of the projection I2 over' the lifting bar 2l. 'If itis now' desired toy determine which customer er customers require a delivery of fuel, the keyf 62T is manually depressed andi the' bar 2 I will engage or contact only those cards' which have movedsu'ihciently to' the vleftfor their por'- tionsY ISE to extend over the same and be engaged andy lifted or tilted above the other cards, by the bar ZI. Such tilted card or' cards will then be removedv froin the file or box I5 and used in arranging a delivery route by a merchant', after which such'- ca-rds are' marked to indicate the amount of oil delivered, the date, and other de sired" data, following which the card is again inserted in the filel or box' I5, preferably in alphabetic'al order, and in contact with the wall 2-0, with pin or spur I3 penetrating ther belt or carr'ier I6;

Key' 651s depressed toilitt' theibar, when it i'sdesired'to deliver fuel to customers in advance ofa holiday etc. As thisliftin'g bar 53 is located a short distance in advance lof the other lifting bar 2|, the need for fuel will be indicated to the merchant a dayy or any other 'desired predetermined period of time in advance of complete depletionof the supply offuelon hand.

I-f manual operation of the bar 2I is not desired, itrwill be realized that the portion I2 at the lower left-hand corner of each card will, through the travel of the belt, engage and' ride up the incline 56lifting the left-hand end of said card or cards above the remaining cards, automatically, so-v that they may be removed and used in the same mannery and for the same purposes as set forth with respect to the cards tilted orv lifted through actuation of the lifting bar 2I through depression of the key 62'. l

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention so far described is by way of example only since the same may assume various forms and may `also have numerous applications. Although it has been particularly described with respect to the delivery of oil or other fuel, its principles may' be advantageously used in connection with the control of irrigation, lubrication of machinery, in hospitals, or elsewhere where it is desired to give or perform service at variable'intervals depending not only on the thing or means served; but also upon the amount of service, use and condition ofy operation. A full lhistory is always obtainable by inspection of the cards" I0, which rare filed alphabetically. The periodicity of `service' is under the control of the location of the c'ut or shoulder 22 on each card, and the control can respond to heat, light, humidity, flow of fluid, and thelike.

The bo-x I5 and its contents may be' referred to generally as a service indicator, and in this connection is identified as a whole as A, while the box 2:3 and its-contents may as a whole be' termed and identified as an` outdoor thermostatic actuator. devi-cev B.-

In Figures 3 and 4, I show one modified form of the said outdoor thermostatic actuator device rThis device consists of a metallic or other box or casing 69 having a horizontal partition or septum of Bakelite therein, providing chambers 1| and 12 on opposite sides thereof, each provided with openings 13 to facilitate escape of heat and which are guarded by louvers 14. Mounted in the chamber 1| is a constant speed electric motor 15 which is geared down so that its shaft i6 will travel very slowly as at one revolution per hour. Said shaft 16 extends through the partition 10 into the chamber 12 where it is equipped with a heart-shaped cam 11, for instance, of iron, which is adapted for coaction with a hardened steel rider 18, depending from a metallic lever 19, pivoted on a rod fastened to the partition 10. A thermostatic metallic strip 8| is fastened to lever 19 for movement bodily therewith and it projects beyond the rider 18 and coacts with an adjustable screw 82 'threaded` through a metallic bracket 83 secured to the partition 10 and on which adjusting screw a lock nut S4 is threaded.

Binding posts 85, 8E and 81 are provided on the partition 10 and the conductors 31 and 38 of the previously described form lead to the binding posts 85 and 81, respectively. From the binding posts 85 and 81, conductors 88 and 89 lead to the motor 15. Another conductor leads from binding post to the bracket 83, and a further conductor 9|' leads from binding post 86 to the lever 19. The conductors 4| and 42 of the preceding form are connected, respectively, to the binding posts 85 and 81. Conductors 4| and 42 are connected to the identical service indicator A employed in the preceding form.

In the form of the thermostatic actuator device B cf Figures 3 and 4, the screw 82 is adjusted until contact is just made with the thermostatic arm 8| with the rider 18 resting on the high point of the cam 11, for a temperature of minus 20 F. Said rider 1B lifts during 180 of its rotation in proportion to the angle rotated and falls for the next of the rotation of the shaft, proportionately to the angle rotated, the total lift being equivalent to the amount the rider 18 is moved, when the thermostatic metal strip 8| is subjected to a change of about 90 F. Rotation of the cam i2 at the adjustment for minus 20 F. fails to interrupt the circuit through the motor 43, thus the motor 43 will run constantly at 20 below zero. At a temperature of '10 F., that is 0 differential, the thermcstatic metal of the strip 8| will bend upwardly, lifting the thermostatic arm 8| so that there will be no portion of the hour when contact is made for causing said motor 43 to run. By proper proportioning of the ratio of the worm 48 and worm wheel 49, the belt i6 is caused to move the desired amount during the winter season. For example, the motor 43 running continuously, should move the belt |6 about one-fourth of an inch in twenty-four hours.

In Figures 5 and 6, I show an integrator and counter device which may be run or operated as an auxiliary to the service indicator A and thermostatic actuator device B. Such device of Fgures 5 and 6 is suitably mounted out of doors so as to be subject to outside temperature. It has an upstanding strip of thermostatic metal 92 whose upper end is curved as at 93 for coaction with teeth 94 on a segment 95 of a lever 96 pivoted on an actuating shaft 91 of a conventional counter 98. Rigid with the actuating shaft 91 of the counter is a ratchet or wheel 99 with the teeth of which a pawl |00 is engaged to prevent retrograde rotation thereof, the pawl being pivoted as at IGI to the casing of such counter 98. A pawl |02 actuates the ratchet wheel 99 and it is pivoted at |03 on the lever 96. Lever 96 is adapted at a lug |04, to contact the periphery of a cam |05 fastened to a shaft |06 of a motor |01. Motor |01 is usually a hand wound clock works which drives the shaft |06 one revolution per hour.

The teeth 94 are in a path which is not concentric with the axis of a shaft 91, but are disposed in an arc so that the highest tooth is at a greater distance from the shaft 91 than the lowest tooth, the distance being equal to the motion which the end 93 of the thermostatic strip 92 follows from the change of 90 in temperature, more or less.

During rotation of cam 05, it lifts the lever 96 and the actuating or integrating wheel 99 is turned by the action of the pawl |02. After the highest point of the cam |05 has passed, lever 96 drops by gravity, with pawl |02 slipping and the pawl |09 holding, until its drop is arrested by the end of the thermostatic metal strip 92 engaging one of the teeth 94. Descent of such lever 96 thereupon stops until cam |05 again contacts the lever at lug |04 and starts to lift the lever. Changes in temperature will cause the thermostatic strip 92 to bend, thereby changing the position at which the thermostatic strip 92 engages a tooth 94 and arrests the descent of lever 9E. The readings of the counter 98 will indicate the accumulated average temperature dii-ference below 70 in some appropriate scale which may be delineated on the box I5, as at |08 in Figure 2.

Another modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figure '1. Such form operates independently of electrical energy and is for installation where controlled frequency alternating current is not available. This form of Figure '1 has an outdoor thermostatic actuator device B. Such device is housed within a suitable casing outdoors, and the operating parts are supported by a base, as at |09. On such base a thermostat 92 is fastened which has an end portion 93 coacting with teeth 94 of a segment 95 on a lever 96 provided with a lug |04 coacting with a cam |05 driven by a shaft |06' of a motor |01. All of the parts from 92 to |01 correspond to the saine parts unprimed, as shown and described in and with reference to Figures 5 and 6, their action and operation being the same. In this instance, a transverse shaft ||0 is journaled in the upper portions of brackets or springs supported on the base |09. Shaft ||0 carries a worm ||2 and also carries an integrator or ratchetwheel ||3. Lever 96' is pivoted on the shaft I0 between the brackets I l and the latter by means of a pin ||4 pivot a pawl I5 which prevents retrograde rotation of the ratchet wheel ||3. The latter ratchet wheel is actuated by a pawl ||6 pivoted at ||1 to the lever 96.

A pair of brackets or bearings ||8 are supported on base |09 and journal a shaft ||9 on which a worm wheel |20 is fast and which is enmeshed with the worm ||2. Shaft ||9 is coupled to and drives the fiexible shaft |2| which, extends through a passage |22 in the box of the service indicator A, within which service indicator it is journaled in a bearing |23 and carries a worm |24 enmeshed with a worm wheel |25 fast on the shaft 50 therein. This service indicator A, otherwise than modified by the parts |2| to |25, conforms to the disclosure thereof in Fignres 1 .and 'f2 :and .the :service indicator .A and thennostaiti'c :actuator .device .B `coact `Lto produce the .same .results asin A.the Eform #of Ythe invention disclosed .and described with lspeciiic :reference to Figures .l and v2., thatiis, the operation-is rdependent upon and :controlled 'by `the temperature differential between :minus 20n F. .and 70 F.,1or :within any other frange, according "to the lparticular thermostat 92 employed, and the prnportioning and coaction :of the `other 'parts accordingly.

With respect to the modifledform y.of Figure 8, the serv-ice indicator .A substantially :conforms to thatshown in Figures 1,:2, .or E7. Its shaft 50 has an integrator Vor .ratchet Wheel |126 keyed lthereto :for actuation, in order Ato :drive fthe ,belt 16, .and associated parts, ito move the .cards |-|l. Pivoted ion .shaft 50 is a lever 1| 21 videntical with those employed .at B .and 96" the same having a rdriving Apawl :|28 pivoted thereto and ^a pawl :|-29pivoted .on bearing or bracket |30 to prevent retrograde movement of the ratchet Wheel E:|26. Said .pawls |28 ,and |29 correspond to those at .|62 and |00, respectively, .or fat Htl and ||5 .respectively. The segment |.3| of .lever .|21 Ahas teeth |32 arranged .like ,those at v94 and 134', and a detent pawl |33 is adapted to move into'and out of .the .path of the vteeth 4|32 to :arrest the descent `of the lever |21, such detent |33 being actuated `by thermostatic means, .according .to the1outside :atmosphere and 70 temperature `differential, whereby the detent |,36in coaction with the .teeth |32 vwill cause the service .indicator A to operate lilse .in the preceding forms. With `this form, a spring or .clock motor, such as an eight-.doy clocky motor, `is employed .fat |34 with a .cam :|35 fast on its shaft |136, ysuch parts |34, .|35 and |36 corresponding to kand lfunctioning similarly to those at |01', MI5 and |66', the cam ,|35 being directly .engageable with a lug .|31 carried by the lever |21, ,and corresponding to the lugs |04 vand HB4 fof Apreceding vigures.

.As to the lthermostatic. means for controlling the position :of the detent |33, the same consists of an expansible bellows at |38 y.connected .by a link L39 pivoted at |40 to .the detent |33, which latter is pivoted .at 44|. A pipe |42 .is :mounted by a bracket .|43l and in the wall |44 of ia building, Exteriorlyiofsuch wal-l |44, a bulb |45 is attached to the .adjacent terminal of the pipe |42. Within the bellows |38, `pipe |42 and bulb |45 there is an expansiblefluid whose contraction and expansion is governed by the outside .or outdoor temperature in order to move .the :detent .|33 into the ypath of .movement of the teeth `|32 to control the operation of the service indicator A. .It will be realized that, with the exception .of ,the bulb |45 and the adjacent end of the pipe |42,.al1 other `parts are located .within .a 4.building and subjected to the atmosphere thereof, usually at a, temperature of 70.

Referring now to .the .form .shown .in Figures .9.and 10, this form isadapted to .be .exposed to the outside atmosphere. It has .a hase v| 46 to which a conventional resistor |41 .is operatively fastenedand engageable with which is a v,contactor of conducting material |48. Contacter |48 is carried by .a strip .of thermostatic metal |49, preferably of two kinds of metal having dif-- -ferent coeilicients of expansion, .and which strip is fastened to a bracket |50 on the ,base |46. Electrical current is `supplied through the rconductors 31 and 3.8, as employed .in the .first form 4of the invention, the Aformer being ,connected to the thermostatic strip |49 and .thelatter tothe resistor r.`|4.|.. The Asaid.coruductors 131 and :38 .in .Figures ."9 and *10 are adapted 4to be connected, respectively, .to :the conductors kMaud f4.2! of Figune Z1, orany equivalent in order to actuatea service indicatorA, in accordance-with `lthe principles of the invention.

'.InfFigure 1'1, which is 1a vlux-.ther modified form, a ratchet wheel or integrator .45| is fast 'on the shaft 50 yof a 'service indicator A, but fragmen-V tarily shown in the linstant gure. This ratchet wheel @|151 is engaged by a bill |52 .of a pawl |53 rigidly carried-at |54 at the yfree end of a thermo-A static bar or strip |55 mounted at |56. Such 'thermostatic bar |55 is 'dispo-sed adjacent lto resistance o1 ta heating coil hat |51 adapted to receiye lcurrent ith-rough feed wires |58, Awhich feed Wires |58 Tame connected any suitable manner inanfeleotri'c circuitwhioh controls the energize- 4tion .o1-.heating offcoil |51 in proportion to the diierential between inside sand outside vtemperatures', it .being clear that when the thermostatic strip 55 ,heats itwillz raise, 'disengaging the pawl |253 :from the kratchet |51, :but .when kthe same cools, it will move. downwardly, moving the pawl |53 against teeth of the :ratchet wheel |5.| .and also downwardly 'thereby rotating .the ratchet wheel .|-.5:| correspondingly.

- In the remaining form disclosed :in Figores lZito 16, .Iyilflus'trate an adaptation of `the invention 'to that 'type .of card index where the .cards are retanedlclips lor `transparent, pockets and separated ea .fraotionof an inch so that `they may hangin atrack 'the names fof thecustomers visible :at the loiweredgerpo-rtion of the cards to facilitate more rapid reference thereto. The cards lin :this .form.care designated |56 fand are retained by transparent for equivalent backings v|50 in ithe form Lof Iermelopes Ior retainers. Such backings 1F60, shy means :of tubes or coil portions 1| 6| are `freely vrotatable von rods |62, but `areheld .against :sliding movement of kthe irods by means of detachable abutments for collars .|63 fastened thereto .byfscrews |164 fitted .in :cutout portions |65 between 'the :ends of the tubes A|6| The rods |62 are disposed in "parallelism and are slightly spaced apart and have opposite .end portions extending A.through longitudinal slots .I 66 of .suitably mounted hollow lor channeled frame members |61.. The channeled members vllgnay he vertically disposed, as suggested inlFigure .13,

lso 'that the retainers .|60 land .cards therein will hang or thefstructnre maybe such as is adapted for arrangement .horizontally or .at van angle.

Pairs ofarotatable rollers |68 .are suitably 'journaled vin .the-'channeled fram'emembers |61 and havegsoft rubber or .equivalent peripheral coverings .169, whichfcause the frods :|62 to slide laterally :and in `parallelism, through the rotation l'of the rollers and their .frictional grip vor contact with the rods |62. Attention called Yto `the fact thatwhile the frictional :grip o'f the :rollers with the frods |162 isasuicient to 'slide the rods |62, the same is of such a degree that' the ,rods maybe manually pushed or moved .laterally counter to the frictio-nal :engagement :as is .necessary in positioning the `rods and backings thereon. Rollers |68 :rotate so Tas to slide the rods |62 to the left in Figures 12 and 114. and one pair of vrollers rIt!! has intermeshing gears `or pinions |1|l vfast thereon, with` `one of 'which fenmeshed with a Aworm Said worm .|1| vvis fasten-a shaft |12 of fazmotor .|13y the vshaftpreferably being journaled in bearings |14. The motor |13 is, located Within one of the channeled frame members |61. Said .motor |13 may be aan electric motor 'and correspond to that disclosed at 43 in Figure 1 with its operation controlled by the same out door thermostatic actuator device B, as employed in that form. Likewise, it may be operated by the actuator B of Figure 7, if preferred, with the worm |24 of that form disposed in driving engagement with one of the worm wheels or pinions HG, or any of the other suggested thermostatic controlled driven means may be employed to operate one of the pinions |10.

It will be noted that stops |15 are fastened adjustably to the rods |52 as by means of screws According to this form of the invention of Figures 12 to 16, movement of the cards |59 and baclsings |55 to the left in Figures 12 and 14 into abutment or practically into abutment with the left hand channeled member |61 will indicate when :fuel oil should be delivered to a customer, and the extent of such movement is determined in the same way as explained with respect to the form of the invention in Figures 1 and 2, to locate the shoulder 22 or length which projection E2 is from the right hand end of the card IG. When this movement has been ascertained, the cards |59 and their backings |60 are properly positioned by manual movement, the associated rod |62 sliding therewith counter to the friction of the roller coverings |69, following which the stops |15 are adjusted to a position contacting the right hand channeled member |61, in which position they are fastened by the screws |13 rigidly to the rods carrying them. Thereafter, when a card |53 is moved into contact with the left hand channeled member will be an indication that the customer named cn the card requires a delivery of oil or other fuel. After appropriate action has been taken to deliver the oil and mark the card, it is again moved to the right in Figures 12 and 14 with stop |15 thereof engaging the right hand channeled member |61, whereby the card is subject to another movement, at the end of which, its position will indicate that the customer requires another delivery of fuel.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a conveyor, means operable to variably move said conveyor, a device for automatically controlling the operation of said means, said device being exposed to outside atmosphere and having an interior space, heating means to maintain the interior space of said device at a predetermined temperature including a thermostat in said space of said device controlled by the differential of temperature within said device and of the atmosphere surrounding said device, individual removable record cards, and means for attaching said cards removably to the conveyor at predetermined points on the latter, whereby the cards are advanced by the Variable movement of the conveyor t0 correspond to estimated service demands of customers represented by the cards.

2. In combination, a lever, drlvenmeans including a cam operable against the lever, said lever having teeth disposed at different distances from its axis of movement, thermostatic pawl means subject to a temperature differential to move into and out of coacting relation with said teeth to control the position of the lever and its operation by said driven means, and indicating mechanism operable through movement of the lever.

3. In combination, a lever, driven means including a cam operable against the lever, said Cri,

lever having teeth disposed at different distances from its axis of movement, thermostatic pawl means subject to a temperature differential to move into and out of coacting relation with said teeth to control the position of the lever and its operation by said driven means, gearing operable by said lever including a flexible shaft, and indicating mechanism operable by said flexible shaft.

4. Mechanism of the class described comprising a variably driven conveyor belt, mounting means therefor, record cards, means to attach the record cards at selective locations along the belt for advancing movement by the belt, said mounting means having a part functioning as a cam engageable by the record cards after advancement to correspond to service demands of customers represented by the cards to eject them by movement away from the conveyor belt.

5. Mechanism of the class described comprising a driven conveyor belt, mounting means therefor, record cards, means to attach the record cards at selective locations along the belt for advancement by the belt, said record cards alone their lower edges having notches and projections, and lifting means below said cards over which the notches are initially disposed and over which the projections are adapted to move through advancement of the conveyor belt for ejecting engagement by the lifting means, the notches functioning to render premature operation of the lifting means ineffective.

6. Mechanism of the class described comprising a driven belt, mounting means therefor, index members, means to attach the index members at selective locations along the belt for movement by the belt, said mounting means having a part functioning as a cam engageable by the index members for predetermining movement to raise them i relatively to the belt, said members having cut away portions and projections along their lower edges, a plurality of individually operable lifting members over which the cut away portions are initially disposed and over which the projections are moved by the belt.

'7. Mechanism of the class described comprising parallel indicator rods, driving rolls therefor between which the rods are slip-connected and frictionally gripped, whereby the rods are movable transversely of the rolls to vary their relative positions, and means operable to drive said rolls according to a temperature differential including a control box, heating means to maintain the interior of the control box at a predetermined temperature, and thermostatic means in the bo-x subject to a temperature differential between the interior of the box and the atmosphere surrounding it.

8. Mechanism of the class described comprising parallel indicator rods, driving rolls therefor between which the rods are slip-connected and frictionally gripped, whereby the rods are movable transversely of the rolls to vary their relative positions, adjustable stop means to govern the starting position of the rods, means to drive the rolls, intermeshing gears on certain of the rolls, a motor to drive said gearing, a control box, heating means to maintain the interior of the control box at a predetermined temperature, and thermostatic means in the box subject to a temperature differential between the interior of the box and the atmosphere surrounding it.

9. In combination, a conveyor, means operable to variably advance said conveyor through the heating of an atmosphere maintained at a conmembers, devices to stant predetermined temperature through dissipation of heat from said atmosphere, removable card record members partaking of the movement of said conveyor, said card record members having means thereon proportioned in accordance with estimated service demands of customers which they represent, means on each card record member for attaching it to said conveyor at selective locations, and means coacting with the second mentioned means engageable with the latter after predetermined movement of the conveyor to eject the card record members.

10. In combination, a conveyor having similar successive movements in the sa'me endless path, means operable to impart said movement to the conveyor in accordance with and through the heating of an atmosphere maintained at a constant predetermined temperature through dissipation of heat from said atmosphere, card record members, means for securing said card record members individually at selective locations to the conveyor for advancement by the latter, said card record members having means thereon proportioned in accordance with estimated service demands of customers represented by the card record members, and means coacting with the second mentioned means engageable with the latter after predetermined movement of the conveyor to eject the card record members.

11. In combination, a conveyor, card record attach the card record members individually to the conveyor at selective locations on the latter, and operating means for the conveyor functioning through the heating of an atmosphere maintained at an approximately constant predetermined temperature through dissipation of heat from said atmosphere to advance the card record members, said card record members having means thereon proportioned in accordance with demands of customers represented by the card record members, and means coacting with the second mentioned means engageable with the latter after predetermined movement of the conveyor to eject the card record members.

l2. In combination, a conveyor, card record members, devices in the nature of a pin on each card record member to attach the latter individually to the conveyor at selective locations on the latter, and operating means for the conveyor functioning through the heating of an atmosphere maintained at an approximately constant predetermined temperature through dissipation of heat from said atmosphere to advance the card record members, said card record members having means thereon proportioned in accordance with demands of customers represented by the card record members, and means coacting with the second mentioned means engageable with the latter after predetermined movement of the conveyor to eject the card record members.

13. In combination, a movable conveyor, means operable to move said conveyor in accordance with degree-day temperature readings, record cards each having means on one edge portion for selective attachment to said conveyor, said cards having notches and projections along their lower edges proportioned in accordance with fuel demands of the customer represented by the card, independently operable lifting devices disposed below said cards and one in advance of theother, whereby upon operation of said lifting devices cards the projections of which have been advanced to overlie the lifting devices Will be raised.

14. In combination, means operable to move cordance With degree-day temperature readings, record cards each having means on one edge portion for selective attachment to said conveyor, said cards having notches and projections along their lower edges proportioned in accordance with fuel demands of the customer represented by the card, and means which said projections are adapted to overlie through advancement of the card by the conveyor, the last mentioned means being operableto eject cards which have been advanced to overlie the same.

15. In combination, a conveyor, means operable to variably move said conveyor, a device for automatically controlling the operation of said means, said control device being exposed to outside atmosphere and having an interior space, heating means to maintain the interior space of said device at a predetermined temperature, in-

a movable conveyor, said conveyor in actuated by said conveyor rendering said members subject to advancing movement of the conveyor imparted from selective locations of the conveyor, and means operable to eject the said members relatively to the conveyor after predeterrepresented by the members.

16. In combination, a movable conveyor element, meansoperable to variably move said element, a device for automatically controlling the operation of said means, said control device being exposed to outside atmosphere and having an interior space, heating means to maintain the interior space of said device at a predetermined temperature, individual indicating cards having means to advance them through advancement by the element imparted from selective locations on the element, and means movable tosaid cards bearing a relation to their 17. In combination, a movable conveyor element, means operable to variably move said element, a device for automatically controlling the operation of said means, said control device beso as to engage those irregular edge portions at predetermined locations to eject the cards individually in accordance with service djemands of customers represented by the cards.

EVERETT H. BICKLEY. 

